I finally own a Manta

Hi, My first Manta Mirage ride was when I was 5 years old getting a ride was amazing. It was instantly my dream car and always wanted to get one. I would inquire here and there every few years after I got a license, but never was able to make it happen. Fast forward thirty something years after my first ride in one and I bought that same car. The good news is I really did get my dream car, the bad news is that the previous owner cut the back half off. So I am going to have a lot of work to do. More bad news is that it is currently being stored 3000 something miles away from me. I have a plan to try and get it home in the spring or early summer.

This is how it looked when I first picked it up
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-6FNsb5H-M.jpg


We made a temp frame to hold the body
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-bXh8Dn6-M.jpg


We made it sit really high to get on the trailer and moved to to someplace that I could keep it.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-XGqKBzt-M.jpg

Welcome to the site. Many of us started with little more than you have now. The dream you had started by your ride is what drives you (and the rest of us as well). Most of us saw the cars back in the day and can only now afford the time, have the money and talent to bring them to life.
Congratulations! Keep us up to date as you progress.

If at times it seems discouraging, check in here and we can give you encouragement and suggestions based on our own trials and tribulations!

Thanks for the welcome. I think my biggest decision is going to be just fix the back and make it a driver, or take it all apart to start fresh.

I do have the small block, but I will need to get a transaxle. I think the front end is stock (VW?)

Can't tell if front of yours is VW. Easy to see if the VW torsion bars are there along with a conventional steering box. Some cars had rack and pinion steering with VW suspension (with steering knuckles swapped from side to side to make it front vs. rear steer).. . Later cars had Mustang II front.

If you have an assembly manual, that helps with identifying things. Here is a link to a site that has them for you to download http://www.mantacars.com/archivesindex.html
Also helpful putting things back together.

Here is another site with lots of information on stock vs. newer transaxles and cars from stock to heavily modified using newer parts than were available back when Mirages were new.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Mantacars/info You may have to set up a Yahoo account to access this group.

Welcome to the site...Luke? Depending on your skills or resources, having to back-half the car may be a good thing (allows you to configure it anyway you desire). Love the wheels! Please keep us posted on the progress, as well as with lots of photos on that progress.

Terry

Thanks for the info. The previous owner passed away before he could finish his plans for it. He had some info on the registry, but i don't know what is true or what he wanted to do. I cant seem to link to the page, but its number 106 on the mirage registry. This is the only pic that I have that shows the front wheel off.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...-8zrkLS7-L.jpg

This link is the same pic, just larger.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-.../i-8zrkLS7.jpg


Hi Terry, My name is Lucas.
I probably could just do the back half of the car. I was looking at the rear subframe on mantacars.com. Have you guys seen any cars that have used that? I also just found Bill Edison's site and love his headlights. There really is a ton of possibilities with this car. I wish I had it home so I could start doing stuff. I guess it is better that it is not, because I am going to be renovating my kitchen and bathroom soon and need to make that the priority.

Welcome Luke,


The rear sub frame

Uses Corvette C5 A arms.

Ls motor.

Porsche transaxle.

A few pictures of the sub frame as completed are here:

http://www.mantacars.com/miragebuildindex.html

Thanks for the info.

I used the power of google images and my out of focus pic to determine that I think I probably have a Karmann Ghia front on the Manta. I really don't know what I am going to do with the back half yet. I do want to try and build it all myself, but I have never done anything like that, so it will take a lot of time. I don't have a shop that is big enough to do all of the work yet. I just have a 1.5 car garage.

Go ahead and design an aluminum tube chassis using all vette c5 suspension front and rear. Then I just have to talk someone else into producing carbon fiber bodies. :-)

Other ideas... http://www.kitcarchassis.com/projects.php

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/ see the boxster s review video and the 914 6 speed video.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lukifer

I just have a 1.5 car garage.

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Perfect...you have the front .5 of a car!

Welcome to the Manta Cars Forum! You have a project on your hands but will be rewarding when done!

Good weather ? Starting to get ideas ? let us know ...

I am waiting to figure out when i can move my cars. I also need to modify my garage so i can install the lift that the manta will live on.